Who has the authority to serve civil process in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, the authority to serve civil process is primarily designated to municipal law enforcement officers. These officers are trained and appointed to carry out various law enforcement duties, including the service of civil documents such as summonses, subpoenas, and court orders. Their ability to serve civil process is rooted in their official capacity as law enforcement personnel, which grants them the necessary legal authority to perform such functions effectively and in accordance with the law.

Other entities like judicial officers may have roles in the civil process but are typically not tasked with the actual serving of documents. State troopers, while they have extensive law enforcement duties, may not be involved in civil processes unless specifically designated. Private process servers can serve civil process as well; however, in the context of this question, the role of municipal law enforcement officers is specifically recognized and established as the primary individuals responsible for serving civil process in North Carolina.